This is a big topic as we enter our recruiting season. I agree with the last post that you should not turn away volunteers. It is tricky tho because one bad apple can certainly turn other good one away. We have found that by having a comprehensive list of ALL volunteer oppts it is really helpful this time of year. SO if someone says I'd like to volunteer for X we refer them to the recruiting chair who should also be called the deflection chair LOL - if she knows that someone is not suited for a certain spot she does a little ego stroking and deflects: Something like "You know you are really good at {pick skill} and we desperately need help on this commitee - you would be a life saver if you could help out there." 9x/10 it works. If it doesn't then you try to recruit someone to run against them. That way everyone can be involved and contribute.
A few things to keep in mind: Your bylaws should have a PTO Standard of Conduct to have things under control, and second set no barriers for parents involvement.......everyone time is valuable and should immediately have an assignment. I understand the fundraiser is huge...but we can't exclude parent involvement. You can assign a mentor or the fundraiser coordinator could be the mentor.
And remember we all have different ways of thinking..or cultural differences it doesn't mean a certain parent has certain behaviors. All it means we have to work a little harder...sometimes its frustrating but at the end it should be rewarding.
While it is no fun having someone on the PTO or any group who is considered "hard to work with", it is bad form, after only 2 meetings, for anyone to be refusing to work with someone who has volunteered to chair a committee. What kind of example does that set? Is that the advice you would give to your child - just don't tell them about the meeting and by the way, don't be honest about the backlash their personality is having on parent participation? That person deserved to be told the hard truth and given the opportunity to either step down or resolve the issue. Being the new kid on the block is not easy. In my own experience, just trying to get information at meetings can be met with "eye rolls", sighs, and derogatory comments by the "seasoned" volunteers. Being a good leader means taking the good with the bad and meeting it with honesty and integrity.
This has to be one of the most frustrating things about being on the PTO.
Yes I think every parent should be able to help and the PTO is always in need of more willing parents we should not have to deal with parents who have hidden agendas.
I am PTO president this year and we have one mom who already has me at my whits end(and we have only had 2 PTO meetings) . She does not want to do any hands on work to get the job done she just wants to boss us all around.
One committee we formed when parents found out she had also signed up to be on it I had 3 to 4 parents jump ship . I can not give up 4 hard working parents who I know will get the job done to make one happy that will end up dumping it all in my lap.
Yes I know what I did was wrong I just never let her know about the meeting we were having.
We only get 6 volunteers max and on this one we had less and I really needed the help due to deadl ines.
I am sure that at some point in the year I will be able to give her some thing to do . But I couldn't run the risk of her blowing our biggest fundraiser of the year.
It is hard to let parents who want to run the show do no real work (type letters , run carnival games ,or any other job ) join in and make other parents mad.
I am very big on all parents feeling welcome and getting parents to help . Parents need to remember if they are not willing to put in 110% on projects only want to shoot down the ideas of others that is not help . PTO should be fun not fist fights or yelling matches . So for parents who want to help out be sure you are willing to do as much work as you are willing to boss.
Went looking for this "oldie but goodie" and decided to resurrect it to see if anyone has stories/advice to share.
I currently have one volunteer that has a year-long position with two different but interconnected responsibilities. She enjoys and does well one part of the job but has passively refused to do the other part. When I spoke with her about it, she had a laundry list of reasons why she hadn't done that part but promised to "get with it".
And, for a short time, she did "get with it". However, it's clear that her turn-around was a passing thing as we're back to same old, same old.
I have to speak with her about this again soon. I'm going to inform her that I'm pairing another parent volunteer with her to take care of the other part of the job. I'm sure she'll protest, but really, the proof is in the pudding (so to speak). She's not getting the job done so she's left the PTO no choice.
What similar volunteer issues are you currently, if any, going through and how are you handling said issues?
